January 18, 2025
I've been following Tofu Shoten on instagram since they were based in West Melbourne and I'm embarrassed about just how long it's taken us to visit. In the end we found the ideal time for it: a sunny Saturday, peckish for an early lunch, with bags and list ready for some grocery shopping.
As their website so succinctly puts it, there's "tofu for home and snacks for now". Making great tofu is where it all starts, then that process generates soy milk, which might be flavoured with red sugar, black sesame or matcha, and okara, which is mixed into biscuit sandos in a rotation of flavours. Tofu is packed up for sale at varying densities; sometimes smoked, fried or formed into savoury balls. Soft tofu is made into desserts and the scraps are transformed into tofu donuts. Everything is connected and everything is tofu! Many, but not all, things are vegan and gluten-free and the labelling is pretty clear.
While Tofu Shoten doesn't offer any seating, those of us ordering snacks for now can ferry them just a few steps north to the public seating along the side of the Brunswick Library. Our two hot parcels of tofu nuggets ($10 each) had us both ecstatic - the nuggets are soft-centred (but not entirely silken), golden-fried on the outside, and generously dusted in the most exquisite, gently-spicy seasoning. The accompanying vegan tartare sauce I chose ranks among my all-time best tartare experiences; Michael's mango sweet & sour sauce was also excellent. The nuggets' one challenge is that they're a bit too large and hot to eat in a single bite, and a bit too delicate and hot to bite through and hold half of.
For dessert, Michael had eyes only for the donuts ($5 each) and chose black sesame over kinako (roasted soybean powder). He described the donut as dense, filling and only subtly sweet (all intended as compliments).
I took my time over a hojicha tiramisu ($9) which layered chocolate sponge and chocolate soy milk mousse. The infusing hojicha (roasted green tea) was pretty subtle but I was delighted by the neat layers of contrasting texture and clean, true flavours.
We packed tofu balls ($4 each) and some jiggly smoked tofu ($11) into our bags and they later made their way into a huge batch of vegan char kway teow.
We love the Tofu Shoten ethos and we love their variety of foods! They'll definitely become a feature of our weekend errand runs.
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Tofu Shoten
6b Saxon St, Brunswick
Accessibility: There's a narrow, flat entry and moderately narrow, flat interior bordered by display cabinets. All food and menus are visible from standing waist height. We ordered, paid and picked up our food from a low counter. We didn't seek out toilets.
This place sounds like heaven.
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